Wash-board



(Mode L) S. BINGHAM.

WASH BOARD.

NO. 395.650. Patented Jan. 1, 1889.

INVENT R: jwfi- W WITNEEIEEEI:

UNITE TATES PATENT rricn.

SOLON BINJrIlAhI, OF CONKLINGVILLE, ASSIGNOR TO ALANSON A. SUMNER, OFALBANY, NEWV YORK.

WASH BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,650, dated January1, 1889.

Application filed February 7, 1888- $erial No. 263,259. (ModeL) To aZZwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SOLON BINGHAM', a citizen of the United States,residing at Conklingville, in the county of Saratoga and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvemeius in \Yash-Boards,of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to certainimprovements in wash-boards, andis applicable to such as have a single washing or rubbing surface, aswell as those having washing or rubbing surfaces on opposite sides orfaces of the board.

The object oi my invention is to provide a wash-board with one or morelids or protectors connected with a spring simlmrted centrally in aspace between the crown-piece and cross-bar supporting the upper portionof the washin or rubbing surfaces, whereby the lids may be used assoap-contai11ers and as a protector at the same time to shield the bodyof the person from splashing water and soapsuds. The lids or protectorsare connected with the sprin held in a block secured to the crown-pieceand the supporting cross-bar of the wash-board in much the samemannerthat the blades of a knife are pivoted or hinged to a frame or housing,and consequently the normal position of each lid or protector is aclosed one; yet, nevertheless, an efficient protector is presented whenone of the lids is opened outward.

The nature and characteristic features of my present invention will bemore particularly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washboard, showing a singlelid or protector pivoted or hinged to a spring supported in a block heldcentrally in an opening in the upper part of the board. Fig. 2 is asimilar view of a double-face wash-board broken away, and with the lidsor protectors in open and closed positions, with my improved pringattachment applied to said lids or protectors. Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview'in broken section of a lid and a coiled spring, showing a modifiedform of attaching said spring to said lid or protector. Fig. atrepresents in elevation the two-part block, and also an end viewthereof, and in which block the coiled spring is supported and such aform of block is particularly adapted for use in a single-facewash-board; and Fig. 5 is an elevation of the two-part block arrangedfor use in connection with a double-face wash-board.

Referring to the. accompanying drawings for a further description of myinvention, A and A are the two side frames of the washboard, made ofwood or other suitable mate- 6o rial.

B is the washing or rubbing surfaces, made of wood, corrugated zinc, orother suitable material.

C is the crown-piece, secured to the upper extremities of the sideframes, A and A, in any suitable manner,

I) is a cross-bar located at the upper eX- tremity of the washing orrubbing surfaces, this bar performing the function of a support or restfor the soap held in the rectangularshaped opening H of the wash-board.

In Fig. 1, E is the lid or protector, made of wood or other suitablematerial, and having a groove, e, formed therein for the reception and 75 free movement of the armv f of the spring F, having on. its outerextremity an eye, f which is held in the groove 8 of the lid E,preferably by means of a staple, f. The spring F, spiral in form, orpreferably formed into one or more coils, is fitted into a two-partblock, G, having a central annular recess, g, formed in each part, andconstituting, when the two parts are suitably united together, a housingfor the spring F. In each part of the block is formed a groove, g,diverging from the centrally-located housing g, for the reception of thearm f of the spring, and in each part of the block is formed a recess, 9extending downward from the central housing, g, for the reception of theoppositelyalisposed arm f of the spring,which is held to place thereinby means of a staple or pin, or in any other convenient manner. Theblock G may be dovetailed into the supporting cross-bar D, by which arigid connection with the wash-board will be insured for the efficientworking of the lid or protector E; or the block may be provided with aspring catch, h, secured to the bottom of the block, and fitting into arecess formed in the sup- IOO tionary soap-containin g receptacle, orfor any other purposes for which it maybe desired to remove the lid.

Vith reference, now, to Fi 2, which shows a double-face wash-board, Aand A are the side frames thereof; 13 and B, the washing or rubbingsurfaces on opposite sides or faces of the board, made of wood,corrugated zinc, or

other suitable material. C is the crown-piece; D,the crossbar, located.at the upper extremity of the washing and rubbing surfaces and i forminga support or rest for the soap. E and E are two lids or protectors, madeof wood or other suitable material, and each having a recess, 6, formedin it for the reception of the arms f and f, respectively, of the springF, and to which arms, having eyes f the lids are pivoted by means of abar, 6, fitted into each lid in any convenient manner. The spring F ismounted, by preference, in a twopart block, G, having a central housing,(],f01 the reception of the spring F, and with grooves g and g divergingfrom the central housing, g, and these grooves arranged preferably at anacute angle to each other for the reception of the arms j" and f of thespring F.

The two-part block G is secured together in any suitable nanner, and isby preference dovetailed into the supporting cross-bar I), the oppositeextremity of said block resting snugly up against the interior surfaceof the crown-piece C, and therefore it will be readily understood 7 thatthe spring F, arranged in this manner, can be properly supported for theperformance of its particular function of supporting in an open orclosed position the lids or protectors independently of the side framesof the board.

lVith the wash-board arranged for use, as illustrated, for instance; inFig. 2, with the rear lid, E, closed against the side frames, aconvenient soap boX or receptacle will be formed, while the extremelower inner edge of said lid will serve as an eflicient drip for thewater and .soapsuds. The lids E and E in Fig. 2 may be cut out, astherein illustrated, with the bar 6 passed through the respective lidsin such manner as to permit of the movement of the arms and f of thespring F, held in the two-part block G, to the right or left of acentral position, for the purpose of increasing the size of thereceptacle for containing soap in one apartment,while what is termedsoft soap is held in the opposite or smaller apartment, in which event Iprefer to use a block that is provided with a spring-catch, h, as shown,for instance, in Fi 1, and arranged so as to be held in a rigid positionin contact with the upper surface of the supporting cross-bar D. To theupper portion of the two side frames, A and A, of the board are securedlateral cleats m, made of metal. These cleats on project laterallybeyond the side frames, A and A, slightly, and form stays to hold therespective lids in proper position, whether the spring F in the block Goccupies a central position or not, which will be readily understood.

Having thus described the nature and ob- ,jects of my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with a wasl1board, of a lid or protector connectedwith and supported by a spring held centrally in a space in the upperpart of the board between the crown-piece and the supporting cross-bar,substantially as shown, and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with a wash-board, of two protectors pivoted to thearms of a spring supported in a block which is held within an, openingin the upper part of the board between the crown-piece and thesupporting cross-bar, subs1antially as and for the purposes set forth.

The combination, with a wash-board, of two protectors pivoted to thearms of a spring supported in a two part block adjustably mounted in ano )ening in the upper part of the board between the crown-piece and thecross-bar, whereby either lid maybe opened or closed, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

SOLON BINGHAM. lVit-nesses:

WILLIAM Sco'r'r, B. R. JENKINS.

